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General News

17 October, 2025

Joan Hartley — an avid community supporter

A recollection of Joan's life and impact, prepared by her family.


Joan Hartley.
Joan Hartley.

Joan was born in Wangaratta on March 30, 1939, to Bill and Eunice Kerr.

The third of four children, she was a sister to Margaret, Graham and John.

Joan attended Wangaratta Primary School and Wangaratta High School.

Her love of sport began early: Vigaro for the school team and basketball (netball) in the Methodist Green team, where she was runner-up best and fairest in 1961.

Joan followed the Wangaratta Magpies football team and would attend matches and barrack for her brothers.

A member of the Methodist Youth Fellowship, she loved her Sunday School picnics. She made lifetime friends at school and was still corresponding and writing letters to them many years later.

Joan enjoyed spending time in Lima East and Swanpool, visiting her grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins.

Christmases were spent at their farm, all staying together with beds made up in the dining room to accommodate the whole family.

Joan began her working life at Ovens Motors in Wangaratta as an office clerk.

Joan and George were married in December 1958. They had four daughters — Jennifer and Wendy, both born in Wangaratta, Lynette and Sue in Maryborough after the family moved here in 1962.

Joan loved the family holidays in Tathra NSW, catching up with her brothers and sisters.

The family started off camping in tents, upgrading later to a caravan.

Joan’s banana lounge would be set up outside the caravan where she would read a book and sunbake. Each morning she and the girls would walk up the lizard steps to buy the Melbourne paper and an ice-cream, then walk to Kianinny Bay to wait for the boys to return from their deep-sea fishing adventures. She might also pick up a rod to catch a fish or two or enjoy the prawning adventures at midnight.

Joan’s involvement with Maryborough netball began in the mid 1960s, when she helped to form a team called Methodist, later known as the United Netball Club, which grew from one team to over 15 by the early 2000s. Joan’s daughters played with the Methodist, United and Exies clubs.

Joan coached a young United team from juniors grades all the way through to seniors.

Joan maintained a close relationship with each of these girls and never forgot to send greetings on their birthdays.

She also enjoyed umpiring, earning her C and B grade badges, and mentoring young umpires.

Joan managed representative teams for the association and was a member of the executive committee for many years, taking on various roles.

Forty-five years ago, when the Maryborough Netball Complex was built, Joan was involved in the planning and operation, which included the canteen.

On Saturday mornings, she would rise early and head to the bakery for fresh bread, and back in the kitchen, make mixed sandwiches, each one cut into perfect triangles, because presentation mattered.

She would also make homemade soup at all times of the night, even after arriving home late from watching Essendon play in Melbourne. On cold netball days, everyone enjoyed a cup of her vegetable soup.

In 1981, the association awarded Joan a Life Membership for all her tireless work. The committee also successfully nominated her for the North Central Region Award which recognises outstanding service to netball.

For many years, she was an association delegate for the North Central Region, assisting with the running of the regional teams for state titles.

Joan loved her tennis and played whenever she could, including competition during the week and on Saturdays at local and regional courts, and as a member at the Maryborough Lawn Tennis Club.

Joan was also deeply involved with the Girl Guides, earning throughout her 60 years of service the Good Service and Banksia Awards for her outstanding contribution.

She was District & Divisional Leader and an active member of the Girawheen Trefoil Guild. She loved attending the camps at Mataranka and Lingbogol. She made many friendships throughout these years.

Joan enjoyed her work as Meals on Wheels co-ordinator with the Central Goldfields Shire and Maryborough District Health Service.

Her clients enjoyed special treats with their meals on public holidays. She would bake Anzac Biscuits for Anzac Day, patty cakes for Australia Day and Queen’s Birthday, and would bag up lollies for Christmas Day. She loved the interaction with her clients.

After retirement at the age of 82 years she volunteered at Wattle Rise, visiting the residents to share conversations and stories.

Joan attended the Methodist Church and was a Sunday School teacher, later becoming a member of St Andrew’s Uniting Church.

She lived her faith not just through words, but through quiet action and unwavering generosity.

She gave her time assisting with church functions, and was an active member of the UCAF (Uniting Church Adult Fellowship) and the knitting group.

She helped to clean the church on Saturdays with her friend Glenda, making sure everything was spotless, but would often find on Sunday morning, frustratingly, that dust had somehow fallen overnight.

Samaritan Purse Christmas Boxes and now Backpacks for Vic Kids are projects supported by UCAF. Joan also was an integral part of the Church’s Christmas Sharing Appeal — helping to collect and distribute gifts. She quietly and consistently gathered donations to support these causes. Her legacy of kindness continues through this work.

Joan’s signature pikelets, fruit platters, and savoury spreads were always a hit at the church morning teas. She would even prepare a special serving of pikelets for someone with special dietary requirements. That was Joan in a nutshell: thoughtful, attentive, and always putting care into the smallest details.

Joan was also awarded a Life Membership of the Californian Gully Kindergarten in 1974 and was greatly honoured to receive from Rotary the Paul Harris Fellow recognition which honours individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and commitment to the ideals of Rotary.

Through the Lions Club Exchange program, the family welcomed Eriko, a Japanese exchange student, for a 12-month stay, creating many fond memories of exploring the countryside and sharing Australian life.

Years later, Joan was thrilled to visit Eriko in Canada during her very first overseas trip — at 80 years of age.

Eriko lovingly called her “my Australian mum”, and they always remained in close contact.

And then there was footy.

Joan was a passionate Essendon fan — she was Essendon through and through.

Watching her beloved Bombers was one of her great passions. Win or lose — she was right there, cheering them on until the end of the game.

Red and black ran through her veins, and she’d talk football like a seasoned commentator. Game day wasn’t just about sport, it was about heart, history, and hope. And no one barracked with more heart than Joan.

She was president of the Essendon Supporters’ Group Bendigo, organising functions with ex-players and other fundraising events.

In 2012, she received an award for services to the community from the Essendon Football Club.

In 2007, she stood as part of the guard of honour for Kevin Sheedy and James Hird — an enormous honour for a lifetime supporter.

In recent years Joan enjoyed watching and supporting the Talbot Football Netball Club.

Every fortnight, she caught the early train to attend the Essendon Ladies’ group, where she made so many great friends. You couldn’t go to a game without her stopping several times, as she ran into familiar faces, and she would happily chat, dissecting every detail of the match. She would break down the game play-by-play like a footy analyst. Arriving home at around 2 am, she still watched the replay of the game, win or lose.

Joan took part in Relay for Life and Run for the Kids, even winning her age group in the local triathlon club 5 km walk.

She was also a regular at the pool, turning up bright and early at 6 am for morning walks and laps with the girls, where just as much chatting happened as laps. Those early hours were full of laughter, stories, and the kind of friendship she cherished.

Joan was a woman of immense energy, generosity and commitment. Her greatest devotion was always to her family.

Grandmother of six and great grandmother of three, she was strong, loving, loyal and fiercely proud of them all. She never missed a moment, a match, or a milestone.

Joan was their biggest supporter, giving love without condition, support without question and memories treasured forever.

— Prepared by Joan’s family

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